MASON — A man who walked into busy traffic on I-71 and was killed by a semi Wednesday morning, June 24, was carrying a Bible and pictures of his family, according to the Warren County Coroner’s Office.
Gregory A. Martin, 43, of Loveland, stopped his vehicle on the right shoulder of northbound Interstate 71 at approximately 10:19 a.m. Wednesday between the Western Row Road and Kings Mill Road exits just south of Kings Island, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Martin then stepped out of his vehicle into the right lane of the interstate and was struck by a commercial vehicle operated by Charles McKee Jr., 41, of Jackson, Miss., the State Patrol said.
Doyle Burke, chief investigator for the Warren County Coroner’s Office said that while the incident can’t be officially ruled on until toxicology reports are returned, there is nothing indicated by the accident to indicate it wasn’t a suicide.
Doyle said several witnesses reported Martin walked directly into traffic and was clutching a Bible as he looked at the truck that was barrelling down on him.
Doyle said that no note was found, but Martin was carrying several pictures of family members at the time he was hit. On the back of the pictures, Martin has scribbled notes of love.
“It’s not unusual for there to not be an explicit note stating intentions,” Doyle said.
Doyle said this was the third suicide via walking into traffic that he could recall in his two years working with the Warren County Coroner’s Office.
“It’s not something the average person does, but it’s not unheard of either,” Doyle said.
